I've had some pretty crazy south Texas dove hunts, but nothing like 1K shells a day. That'll be a personal record, but they say to be prepared to shoot 20-25 boxes in the morning and another 20-25 boxes in the afternoon.

I also hear that it's the non-shooting shoulder that gets the worst of it. Lifting a loaded shotgun over 1,000 times a day is not a motion that folks are terribly used to.

I've also been advised to USE the bird boys for reloading. I've had a sore thumb on a 5 box hunt plenty of times. I can't imagine how sore my thumb would be if I did all the loading myself. Of course, an O/U would solve some of that.

Update. I've been back a little over a week. Out-freaking-standing. I recommend it highly.

This was Pope Francis' church as a cardinal in Buenos Aires before becoming Pope.

This was the balcony where Eva Peron and the "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" thing happened. Madonna ruined it for me.

This is a typical Argentinian lunch they serve you in the field everyday. LOTS of protein.

Here we are prior to a hunt in front of the lodge.

Just a pile of dove next to my blind on a morning hunt. They closely resemble a Mourning Dove, but the species down there is the Eared Dove with two distinctive black lines on the cheek/neck.

Pigeons are also fair game. I shot these two on an afternoon hunt. Note they're not the "bread crumb at the park" type pigeons. Meaty.

They prepare dove almost any way imaginable. Here is Corn Flake crusted dove that they deep fry.

Our guides called this an Inca Dove, but a quick browse online tells me that Argentina is out of the Inca's range. Whatever species it is, they fly INCREDIBLY low in the tops of the scrub and short trees. Quick little suckers. Note the two black stripes on the wings. Cool little bird.

Parrots are fair game. Beautiful bird.

Coolest action shot of the trip. Shell ejection. Plume of feathers after the hit.

Here is the ammo they use. No brass. All plastic.

Here's the typical field lunch.

Here's the typical siesta after the field lunch.

This is our last afternoon hunt.

Final tally. Since they charge you by box of shells, the shell count is dead accurate. The bird count is certainly not as accurate, but it's as close as I'll get. I certainly noticed my accuracy decline with each successive 1000 rounds!!!

I recommend the outfitter highly. Glad to talk to anyone offline who's thinking about going.

The doves and pidgeons look very similiar to our South African variety. In our maize area their numbers take on pest proportions and some big shoots are held. I personally have never gotten into the bird/shotgun thing. I have enjoyed the odd geese shoot.

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